Folding card table with lock means



sept. 12, 1950 C. FLAGSTAD FOLDING CARD TABLE WITH LOCK MEANS Filed 0017. 24, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FI'E 'Z.

me/Mm CORNELL FLAGS TAD Sept. 12, 1950 c. FLAGSTAD 2,521,707

FOLDING CARD TABLE WITH LOCK MEANS Filed Oct. 24, 1947 5 Sheets-Shes?, 2

me/rdm CORNELL FLAGSTAD mmf? Sept. l2, 1950 c. FLAGSTAD 2,521,707

FOLDING CARD TABLE WITH LOCK MEANS Filed Oct. 24, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIC-b E' Ima/whom CORNELL FLGSTD v -nrl' 'l Patented Sept. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES ATNT OFFICE FQILDING CARD TABLE WITH LOCK MEANS Cornell Flagstad Minneapolis, Minn.

Application -Qctsloer 24, 19d?, Serial No. 381,805

(Cl. 31h-87) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in folding card tables and the prima-ry object is to provide ,an improved folding supporting structure for the table which will permit the table to be quickly and easily folded merely by releasing a latch near one edge of the table top and lift.- ing at the same time. Thus vthe laborious indi-` vidual release and folding of the four legs of the common table is completely done away with. The table is, of course, as readily unfolded set up for use by a single operation and is automatically latched when it reaches position for use.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple and easily operating folding structure of this kind which in addition has the very im portant advantage of providing rigid support for the table while it is in use, and which further supports the table at a Vplurality of widely spaced points to prevent both sagging and tilting of the table top.

These and more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a side elevation of my improved card table showing it in the operative position. and with the table top shown in cross section.

Fig. 2 is a similar View but showing the table partially folded.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plane view of the table with the supporting structure unfolded as in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional View along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly and by reference characters to the drawing, A designates generally a card table top which may be of any desired construction and which is here shown as comprising a top board I with a marginal de-1 pending rim Il and with two parallel cross bars or cleats I2 extending across the underside of the top board. I do not, -of course, limit myself to the particular table top here shown and by the use of suitable brackets or cleats, my supporting leg `structure may be readily applied to any usual type of table.

My improved folding supporting structure for the table comprises a pair of leg units or frames designated generally and respectively `at B and C, and a pair of corresponding :brace link units or frames indicated generally at D and E. Each leg unit B and C comprises a pair of ,legs I3 and I4 which stand in inverted V-shaped positions When the table is in use, as seen in Fig. l, and which further have their lower portions angled outwardly as seen in Fig. 3 so that the bumper equipped lower ends I5 ofthe legs have the neces sary wide bearing contacts with the iioor. The upper ends of the legs t3 and l are iiattened and intertted as indicated at I6, and they are pivoted together upon a cross rod I'I which connects the legs of the respective pairs. It will be noted that thecross rod II7 has `no pivotal or :other engagement with the table top so that the upper ends of the legs are free to move with respect to the table top except `for 'latching mechanisms later to be described. `Wear plates I8 'are secured to the cross bars I2, 'between `which the pivoted upper ends of the ieg units are positioned, and

these wear plates extend out between the .table top and the upper ends 4of the legs to prevent wearing contact between the legs and the `top board l0. The legs Ill-I3 and 'I4-I4 of theleg units B and C are rigidly connected intermediate their ends by cross braces I9 and it will lthus be apparent that the :leg units may fold and unfold in unison as `will be presently described.

The brace link uni-ts D and E are Xes'haped and each comprises crossed links 20 yand 2|, which are pivoted together where they ycross as indicated at 22, and` which are positioned alongside the leg units 'B (and C) toafold and'uni'old inl planes parallel to said leg units. The lower ends of the links 20 and ZI are pivoted at 23 and 2.4 to the legs I3 and I4 and the upper ends of these links are pivoted at 2.5 and 26 to the inner sides of the cross bars I2. As seen 'in Fig. 3 the pivoted upper ends of the links 20 and 2l are suitably offset, as indicated at 21, to provide clearance for the legs. prises two sections 2|a and k2|b which are pivotally connected at their meeting ends at 20 and the upper sections 2la of the links 2I are provided with downwardly opening notches 29 adapted in the unfolded position of the table to corne to lrest downwardly against a stop or pin 30 on the link I3. The'links 20 have similar notches 3| adapted to similarly engage vstops or pins 32 on the legs I4.

An actuating member or yoke, designated gen'- erally at 33, is provided and has diverging arms 34 which are pivoted at one end at 35 on the cross rod I1. The converging ends of the arms 34 meet a cross bar 36 which plays in a slot or guideway 31 formed between a latch bracket 38 and the underside of the top board I0. The latch bracket 38 is secured by its end feet 39 to the underside of the top board I0 adjacent one end of the table and a, latch 40 is .provided with sides 4I which loosely fit over opposite Asides of Link 2l is a broken link or comthe latch bracket and are pivoted thereto by a pin 42. The latch sides 4I have projections 43 which normally engage the cross bar of the actuating member 33 and holding it at one end of the slot 31 as seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. A small spring 44 on the pin 42 normally urges the projections 43 into such position but by pushing upward upon the end 45 of the latch, it may be oscillated to move the projections clear of said cross bar 35, so it may move toward the table edge in the slot 31, as will be readily understood.

In the unfolded or operative position of the table as seen in Fig. 1 it will be apparent that the legs I3 and I4 will be braced apart by the crossed link units or frames D and E and will likewise be held against movement at their upper ends relative to the table by the actuating member 33 which is locked by the latch 40. To fold the table it is only necessary to lift upwardly momentarily on the end 45 of the latch so that its projections 43 clear the cross rod 3B, and at the same time lift upwardly on this edge of the table, and the supporting structure will then fold as indicated in Fig. 2. In so doing the actuating member 33 moves toward the upper edge of the table while the links 2| of the link units break and fold upwardly and by a continuation of the movement, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, the entire structure will fold flat against the underside of the table to a very compact condition. To again unfold the table and set it up for use, it is only necessary to pull its upper edge back in a downward direction and as the table top reaches its horizontal condition the supporting structure will be unfolded and automatically locked by the latch 40. It will thus be observed that the folding and unfolding of the table may be quickly carried out and certainly much more rapidly than the ordinary table wherein the four legs must be individually adjusted.

An important feature of my invention resides in the coaction of the notches '29 and 3I with the respective pins 3U and 32. These elements act as half pivot connections as the structure folds and unfolds and transmit load forces from the table directly through the upper parts of the links 20 and 2| to the legs I3 and I4 at these so that the combination of the inverted V-shaped leg frames and the X-shaped link frames form a series of triangular trusses or braces giving great rigidity to the table. It will further be noted that the table is supported at center pointsl upon the upper ends of the leg units B and. C and at four outspread points upon the upper ends of the links 20 and 2l at each side. Thus multi-point support against tilting and sagging of the table top is provided over a wide area.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In a folding card table, a top and two pairs of supporting legs for the table, the individual legs of each pair being pivotally connected at their upper ends, a pair of crossed links for each pair of legs, the individual links of each pair being pivoted together where they cross and the links being pivoted at lower ends to the respective legs and at their upper end to the table top, a corresponding linkv of each pair comprising sections pivotally/ connected,together for folding movements, a yoke member connected to the upper ends of the legs and extending beneath the table top toward one edge, and a catch adjacent said edge for releasably engaging and latching the yoke members to thereby hold the pivoted ends to the legs against movements.

2. In a folding card table, the combination comprising a top, a pair of legs pivotally connected at their upper ends for folding movements, a pair of crossed links pivotally connected where they cross and pivotally connected at their lower ends to the respective legs and pivotally connected at their upper ends to the table top for folding movements in planes parallel to the legs, one of said links having two pivotally connected sections whereby it may fold upwardly, a member connected to the pivoted upper ends of the legs, and a latch for securing the member to the top to hold the upper ends of the legs against movement with respect to the top and thereby releasably lock the leg and link structures against folding movements.

3. In a folding card table, the combination comprising a top, a pair of legs pivotally connected at their upper ends for folding movements, a pair of crossed links pivotally connected where they cross and pivotally connected at their lower ends to the respective legs and pivotally connected at their upper ends to the table top for folding movements in planes parallel to the legs, one of said links having two pivotally connected sections whereby it may fold upwardly and permit the entire leg and link structure to fold fiat against the underside of the top, and means for releasably locking the pivoted upper ends of the legs to the top to hold the leg and link structure against folding movements.

4. In a folding support structure for a card table top, the combination comprising a pair of inverted V-shaped leg units and a pair of X- shaped brace link units for each leg unit, each leg unit comprising two legs foldably connected together at their upper ends but movable with respect to the table top, the brace link units each comprising two crossed links pivoted where they cross and pivotally connected at the upper and lower ends respectively to the table top and the legs, and a corresponding link of each link unit comprising two sections connected end to end for upward folding movements.

5. In a folding support structure for a card table top, the combination comprising a pair of inverted V-shaped leg units and a pair of X-shaped brace link units for each leg unit, each leg unlt comprising two legs foldably connected together I' at their upper ends but movable with respect to the table top, the brace link units each comprising two crossed links pivoted where they cross and pivotally connected at the upper and lower ends respectively to the table top and the legs, a corresponding link of each link unit comprising two sections connected end to end for upward folding movements, a member connected to the upper ends of the leg units and positioned underneath the table top, and a latch for engaging said member to releasably lock the upper ends of the legs to the table top while the table is in use.

6. A folding supporting means for one side of a card table top, comprising, in combination, a pair of upwardly converging legs pivotally connected at their upper ends, a pair of crossed links pivotally connected where they cross and located alongside the legs with their pivot connection below the leg pivots, the said links at their lower ends being pivoted to the legs and at their upper ends pivoted to the table top, one of said links having two pivotally connected and upwardly foldable sections, and upwardly releasable supporting connections between the links and legs at the points where the links cross the legs.

7. A folding supporting means for one side of a card table top, comprising, in combination, a pair of upwardly converging legs pivotally connected at their upper ends, a pair of crossed links pivotally connected where they cross and located alongside the legs with their pivot connection below the leg pivots, the said links at their lower ends being pivoted to the legs and at their upper ends pivoted to the table top, one of said links having two pivotally connected and upwardly foldable sections, and the said links diverging from their pivot connection and crossing the upwardly converging legs, the links having dow'n wardly opening notches where they cross the legs, and stop means on the legs for engagement with said notches to transmit downward yforcesi; from the table top along the links to the legs. at f these points.

at their upper ends, a pair of crossed links pivot-L ally connected where they cross and located alongside the legs with their pivot connection `below the leg pivots, the said links at their lower REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the le of this patentz' UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Y Date Number Name 1,426,422 Stowe Aug. 22, 1922 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 421,059 France Dec. 10, 1910 

